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Queen Elizabeth's coffin has been lowered into a vault at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, after a day of inimitable pageantry that drew world leaders to her funeral and huge crowds to the streets to say farewell to a revered monarch.

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers lined the route her hearse took from London, throwing flowers, cheering and clapping as it passed from the city to the English countryside that she so loved much.

Many more had crammed into the capital to witness the procession and funeral, in a moving tribute to the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch who won global respect during 70 years on the throne.

Inside the majestic Westminster Abbey where the funeral was held, 500 presidents, prime ministers, foreign royal family members and dignitaries, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, were among the 2000 congregation.

Later the attention switched to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where 800 guests attended a committal service ahead of her burial.

It concluded with the crown, orb and sceptre - symbols of the monarch's power and governance - being removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.

The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, then broke his "Wand of Office," signifying the end of his service to the sovereign, and placed it on the casket before it slowly descended into the royal vault.

As the congregation sang the national anthem, King Charles appeared to be fighting back tears.

Later in the evening, in a private family service, the coffin of Elizabeth and her husband of more than seven decades, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, will be buried together in the same chapel where her parents and sister, Princess Margaret, also rest.

It was in the same vast building that the Queen was photographed mourning Philip alone during the pandemic lockdown, reinforcing the sense of a monarch in synch with her people during a testing time.

At the funeral, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, told those present that the grief felt by so many across the UK and the wider world reflected the late monarch's "abundant life and loving service".

"Her late majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth," he said.

"Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen."

After the funeral, her flag-draped casket was pulled by sailors through London's streets on a gun carriage in one of the largest military processions seen in the UK, involving thousands of members of the armed forces dressed in ceremonial finery.

They walked in step to funeral music from marching bands, while in the background the city's famous Big Ben tolled each minute.

King Charles and other senior royals followed on foot.

The casket was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and transferred to a hearse to travel to Windsor, where more big crowds waited patiently.

Among those who came from around the UK and beyond, people climbed lampposts and stood on barriers and ladders to catch a glimpse of the royal procession.

Some wore smart black suits and dresses.

Others were dressed in hoodies, leggings and tracksuits.

A woman with dyed green hair stood next to a man in morning suit as they waited for the London procession to begin.

Elizabeth died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle, her summer home in the Scottish highlands.

Her health had been in decline, and for months the monarch who had carried out hundreds of official engagements well into her 90s had withdrawn from public life.

However, in line with her sense of duty she was photographed just two days before she died, looking frail but smiling and holding a walking stick as she appointed Liz Truss as her 15th and final prime minister.

Such was her longevity and her inextricable link with the UK that even her own family found her passing a shock.

"We all thought she was invincible," Prince William told well-wishers.

Towards the end of the service, the church and much of the country fell silent for two minutes.

Trumpets rang out before the congregation sang God Save the King.

Outside, crowds joined in and broke into applause when the anthem was over.

The Queen's piper brought the service to an end with a lament called Sleep, Dearie, Sleep that faded to silence.

© RAW 2022

Although the Duke of Sussex has stepped back from royal duties, he took his place alongside his brother the Prince of Wales for the ceremonies of the Queen's state funeral.

William, in his RAF No1 uniform, and Harry, in formal funeral wear and medals, marched slowly behind their father the King, as the Queen's coffin was taken from Westminster Hall, at the heart of the Palace of Westminster, where she had been lying in state.

Their cousin Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandchild and son of the Princess Royal, had walked beside the brothers to the abbey.

As the procession came to a halt after its short journey around Parliament Square, the Prince of Wales saluted, while his brother bowed his head, as the coffin was lifted from the gun carriage.

Once inside, the Princess of Wales, with her two older children George and Charlotte, and the Duchess of Sussex, both wearing wide-brimmed black hats and with solemn expressions, joined the procession behind the coffin to the nave.

After some controversy about Harry and Meghan holding hands as they left Westminster Hall following the short service at the beginning of the Queen's lying in state, the couple walked side by side, but not holding hands.

They were seated directly behind the King and Queen Consort, facing the coffin, while William and Kate - for whom the abbey holds happier memories as the place of their wedding more than a decade ago - were across the aisle with their two children.

After the funeral ended with a rendition of the national anthem, the brothers joined the huge procession escorting the Queen on the beginning of her final journey, marching once again with sombre expressions behind the gun carriage as their wives followed behind in slowly-driven cars.

William saluted the Cenotaph, while Harry bowed his head as they passed the memorial to Britain's war dead.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are among the party making its way to Windsor and the committal service and interment, which will see the Queen laid to rest alongside the brothers' grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

© PAA 2022

Legendary Sydney forward Lance Franklin has ended speculation about his playing future after committing to the Swans for next season just days out from playing in the AFL grand final.

Franklin, out of contract at the end of the season after completing a monster nine-year deal he signed to switch from Hawthorn in 2014, has inked a one-year extension to stay in Sydney.

The Swans announced the deal via social media in a cryptic fashion, releasing a statement that Franklin had said "one more" in relation to his plans for 2023.

It means he will add to his amazing legacy, having already kicked 1047 goals to sit fifth on the all-time VFL/AFL goal-kicking list.

The 35-year-old has been the subject of much speculation about his future with Brisbane flagged as a possible 2023 destination if he decided to play on.

Franklin's signing is a massive boost for the Swans as they prepare to take on Geelong in the 2022 AFL decider at the MCG on Saturday.

He's no stranger to the game's biggest stage, the two-time premiership player preparing for his sixth grand final appearance in a career that so far tallies 340 games.

He could hardly have been more impressive in their thrilling one-point win against Collingwood in Saturday's preliminary final, kicking two goals to go with 13 disposals and seven marks.

The vintage display drew high praise from Sydney coach John Longmire.

"He was up and going the big 'Bud', he was charging around and I thought he gave us a lot of energy," Longmire said.

"He won some important contests, particularly in that first half he was able to win some 50-50 ball and I just thought some of the pressure stuff that he applied early on in the game was excellent as well."

It's already been a memorable year for Franklin, his 52-goal campaign helping him pass the 1000-career goals mark against Geelong in round two.

He trails only Tony Lockett (1360), Gordon Coventry (1299), Jason Dunstall (1254) and Doug Wade (1057) as one the game's greatest goalkickers.

Franklin has well and truly delivered on his long-term contract at the Swans, winning the club's goal-kicking award six times along with two Coleman Medals and four All-Australian selections.

He has been picked as an All-Australian eight times.

Franklin played 182 games for Hawthorn after making his AFL debut for the Hawks in 2005.

He was a member of Hawthorn's premiership-winning teams in 2008 and 2013.

Franklin has played 158 games for Sydney.

He's been in the game since being picked at No.5 in the 2004 AFL Draft and is an almost certain AFL Hall of Fame once his career is over.

Sydney's Franklin announcement appears to be an homage to basketball legend Michael Jordan, who ended a hiatus from the NBA in 1995 by faxing a media release that simply read: "I'm back."

The Swans statement reads: "The following statement was released today by Lance Franklin, via the Sydney Swans Football Club located in Sydney, NSW, Australia, in response to questions about his future career plans: 'One more.'"

Franklin is set to front the media at the SCG on Tuesday.

© AAP 2022